Warranty repair

mrs_T

The clutch has gone on my 2008 yaris (16500 miles). I had it recovered to the toyota dealer where I bought it 18 months ago. It's not 3 till next month so I think it should still be under warranty but they say they will look at it and decide if it is a warranty repair or due to bad driving! Somehow I think we're going to have an arguement but now they've got the car and it's not driveable I can't take it elsewhere if they won't repair under warranty.

Advice please.

Hammyman

Clutches are classed as consumable items and therefore not usually covered other than the first few months. My grandfather had to wear special shoes and went through a clutch every 6000 miles so bad driving can kill a clutch in 18k very easily.

GlynD

If you're not happy then phone Consumer Advice. Under the Sale of Goods Act the cluth (and every other part of the vehicle) had to be "fit for purpose". That means there is a certain number of miles, even outside the warranty period, you can expect before needing a new part.

Hintza

Give me any car and I will burn the clutch out in under 100 miles.

OP might get lucky and get some goodwill but it will be only one time offer.

mikey72

You can always get the parts back and get an independant opinion on them. Tell them this before they "dispose" of the items for you, if you can be there when they remove them even better.

freezebox

its probably your driving style. I have never had to replace a clutch in any of my cars and have had them for over 100k miles each. (i get rid after ive covered 100k)

gilbert_and_sullivan

Toyota are not a company that treats it's customers unfairly, if it's faulty they will honour it.

If the driven plate is worn out then that's quite obvious heavy use or 'riding' of the clutch and then i'm afraid it's down to the driver.
If the pressure plate or flywheel or release bearing has failed they will show you the fault, if overheating has caused it, then again it's down to driving, if it's just plain faulty they will play fair by you, have faith.

Incidentally, the outlaw's Mazda 3 clutch failed at around 12k miles, 12 months old, never had a problem with their previous Honda's, the Mazda garage disposed of the parts before anyone could look at them, and i'll let you guess the result.

mikey72

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Toyota are not a company that treats it's customers unfairly, if it's faulty they will honour it.

If the driven plate is worn out then that's quite obvious heavy use or 'riding' of the clutch and then i'm afraid it's down to the driver.
If the pressure plate or flywheel or release bearing has failed they will show you the fault, if overheating has caused it, then again it's down to driving, if it's just plain faulty they will play fair by you, have faith.

Incidentally, the outlaw's Mazda 3 clutch failed at around 12k miles, 12 months old, never had a problem with their previous Honda's, the Mazda garage disposed of the parts before anyone could look at them, and i'll let you guess the result.

Toyota usually deny any fault, and usually don't offer any assistance until the customer proves a problem is there.

gilbert_and_sullivan

mikey72 wrote: »

Toyota usually deny any fault, and usually don't offer any assistance until the customer proves a problem is there.

My own and others experiences of them could not be further from that.

What happened to cause you to feel this way?

mikey72

Used to work for a company supplying them, and buying in from the Japanese.
I found they were about as reliable as anything else, but they maintained their reputation by denying any faults, ever.

Flyboy152

Hammyman wrote: »

Clutches are classed as consumable items and therefore not usually covered other than the first few months. My grandfather had to wear special shoes and went through a clutch every 6000 miles so bad driving can kill a clutch in 18k very easily.

:wall:

Clutches are designed to last a lot longer than a few months. The Citroen Picasso we had did over one hundred and twenty thousand miles without the need for new clutch.